WHO: Ruby and Presto WHAT: An all-nighter between friends. WHEN: Recently WHERE: The beach near her place WARNINGS: None STATUS: Closed and Complete
Presto had been beset by a few problems of late, and with things up in the air, was not sure where everything was. But he knew he wanted to get out, have some fun, and try to forget about all the stuff for a night. Spending it with a friend and doing something he had done before, but alone, this time with that friend? Sounded awesome to him. Ruby was a friend, someone who had started out as just someone who’s services as a bed and breakfast person he had patronized. But she and her granny were good people and made that place a haven that he had indulged in quite often. And he had been around enough to talk to them and enjoy their company.
So he was definitely bouncy as he drove up to Ruby’s place, and bounced out of his car, grinning.Due to the nature of the evening’s plans, he had good jeans, a nice shirt, and tennis shoes on, with a change in the car, if he needed it.
Once he got to her door, he knocked.
***
Ruby supposed that her and Granny didn’t have to live at the bed and breakfast, but given amount of work that they did? It would be silly not to. There were rooms on the upper level for guests, a big round table in the kitchen for meals (and space on the patio for those outdoor barbecues), but on the main floor were her and Granny’s rooms. And oh, Ruby’s room was tiny - but she decorated it how she liked, with lights strung up behind a curtain above her bed, an upholstered bench for storage, antique vanity, and dreamy vintage white writing desk for when she did her schoolwork. Not exactly luxurious, but she was alright with that.
True to her word, she’d packed an insulated picnic basket with both dinner and breakfast - fried chicken, homemade mac and cheese, slices of pie for dessert. Then later when the sun came up they’d have waffles and fresh fruit, with juice that was also freshly squeezed. None of this ‘from a can stuff.’ Ew.
Hearing the knock, she grabbed her beach coverup (she had on her swimsuit beneath shorts and a tank top) and went to the door. A big grin was on her face when she did. “Presto, hey! Ready to go?”
***
Presto was smiling as he waited. He had many good memories of this place, both with his parents and after. Ruby and her Granny had been very supportive, and he would always be grateful for those days of small and large kindnesses done. Simple things and yet… even now, it meant the world to him.
When she came out, he smiled. “Hello, oh bright one. How the heck are you?” His own swimsuit trunks were under his jeans. For ease of access and all.
“I am absolutely ready to go. Let’s have some fun!”
***
“Pretty good,” Ruby laughed, amused at the nickname. Presto was sweet, and it was tragic how he’d lost his parents. She’d never met her own father (didn’t know who he was, nope, could be any dude!) and she knew now that she likely would not see her mother again. A lack of parental guidance could hit you hard, even if you were technically grown up. It made you feel like an orphan.
But they didn’t have to focus on just depressing things today - they could talk about everything under the sun, since they’d have the time. “Let’s just go around and take the path - we’re mere steps from the beach,” she promised, leading him along the pebbly path that went from the B&B to a more sandier atmosphere. It was pleasant, having the beach right in their backyard for the most part.
Best part was? If they ran out of food, Ruby could just run back in and take care of that. She did have a hearty appetite sometimes. When they arrived, she set down her supplies, opening up the basket. “I’ve got a sheet and stuff, we can set up our own makeshift tent. All nice and rustic.”
***
Presto smiled to her. “Yay!” He smiled to her as they wandered down the path, and looking around at the whole area. He grinned and settled next to her on the area, smiling to her. “I can set that up. I’m good at that.”
And he started in on it, and if maybe it went up a little faster than it should, Well… magic was sometimes subtle and sometimes not.
“You are amazing, Ruby. I brought wine, and chocolates, as well.” Because watching the stars and talking seemed to call for them.
***
Wait, what? Okay, Ruby swore one second the tent hadn’t been up and then a second later it was. Weeeeird. “How’d you do that?” she asked, not judging, but she was obviously just a bit surprised.
Her talents were more along the lines of making fabulous pie and brewing an equally fantastic cup of coffee. Useful skills, yes/no?
“But ooh, wine and chocolates. You sure you haven’t done this before with your various lady friends?” she teased, settling on the sheet (so much better than getting sand everywhere - which was always the worry with beach trips) and getting comfortable. If Presto had a bottle opener, she’d advocate for breaking into that wine right now.
***
“Magic. I’ve got a talent for it.” He grinned at her. “It’s what I’m always practicing in my room at the b&b.” No one ever believed he meant real, honest to gosh magic when he said it.
He liked her skills, that and the way she could always look awesome no matter the hour.
“I’ve never done this before, and I only ever had one even close to lady friend.” His face went sad. “Family business took her away before we could ever explore becoming more then friends.” He shook his head, pushing it away.
“So, no, never. You’re my first here.” The sand, oddly, did not get on anything of theirs, not at all. Almost like it was actively avoiding them. He pulled out cups and a bottle opener, indeed, and grinned. “Wine?”
***
“Magic, like legit magic?” Ruby did a double take, forest-green eyes widening in obvious surprise. Maybe other people were used to it, but she sort of wasn’t. She wasn’t used to any magic, except for things she saw on television - Vegas shows and America’s Got Talent and whatever, point was, none of that was real. If Presto had real magic, that was news to her.
She felt bad for the kid though, it sounded like he had his heart toyed with. Not that she knew the whole situation, but still. “You’re great, I’m sure another lady friend will come along - and this one will stick,” she nodded, holding out her cup. “Wine, yes please! And have some chicken, some mac and cheese. Pig out to your hearts content.”
***
“There’s always real magic, if you look for it.” He winked at her, eyes a little wider as he realized she was taking him seriously. “Depends on whether or not you really want to believe in it.” Well, now, that would be a different way for this evening to go. “Magic is, as much anything else, a state of mind. And most people don’t want to believe in magic in a world like this one.”
He flushed at her words, and smiled. Ruby was nice. He poured wine for them both and grinned at her as he doled out some food to his plate, sitting back after a minute.
“Thank you for cooking. You didn’t have to, you know.”
***
Ruby wasn’t sure if she believed - that sounded kind of like fairy stuff or something. Clap your hands three times or Tink will die, that sort of idea. It wasn’t as if she was overly cynical but she tried to keep her feet on the grounds on most occasions. Granny would never believe this though - so Ruby would just make sure not to mention anything to her yet.
“It’s no problem, I love cooking,” she waved off the thanks, digging into a slice of pie. Who said you couldn’t have dessert before dinner? Or with dinner? Cherry pie went well with fried chicken! “Plus it’s cool to just hang out on the beach. I live and work here but there’s always something to do, you know?” She hoped to pull back a little, and pursue her own goals - something in law enforcement, just getting her feet wet - but that would happen soon.
***
Presto blinked a little, then nodded, listening. “It is. I love the beach, and just enjoying the nice breezes off the water,” which they were getting. The warm weather aside, there was an okay wind coming in, now and then. “and I like hanging out with you.”
She was a nice person, and this would be really his first chance to hang out with her outside of the job. He was looking forward to it.
“How’ve you been doing?”
***
“You like charming me with chocolate, you mean,” Ruby cackled, but hey, she wasn’t complaining. You really couldn’t go wrong with chocolate - or wine. Or basically just plowing her with food. It was why she could never be a model full time, making that her career - she liked to eat waaaaaaay too much. She’d done some work here and there, sure, but it wasn’t a permanent thing.
She shrugged at the question, relaxed and relatively carefree. There hadn’t been fights with her Granny lately and they didn’t have to worry about money much. For that, she couldn’t complain. “I’m pretty okay,” the brunette grinned. “Trying to find my place and all that. What about you? This place’s supposed craziness hasn’t worn you down yet?”
***
“Hah!” He smirked, then laughed. “Chocolate is something I can get in abundance, you know.” He chuckled, shaking his head as he held up his wine glass to her.
“To friendship, and to fun, and to just enjoying this life we have.” Even if sometimes there were troubles, friendship and fun helped.
His life had been equal parts trouble and fun, and with magic, that only magnified a hundredfold, but he had learned to live with it, and strive for better things, and better days, especially with friends along.
***
Well, why not! Ruby returned the toast, clink, then raised her eyebrows as she watched Presto over the edge of the wine glass. “Enjoying the life we have,” she repeated. “I can get behind that.”
There was a lot more in store for her, most likely, but she’d deal with it. As long as she kept ignoring that ominous feeling in the pit of her stomach (that planted itself firmly ever since joining that one network) and focused, facing the future and onward.